The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-05-05
Organized Labor,

Revolution In organized haDor'
New York Tribune.
Nothing can be more interesting as a
study in evolution than the processes by
which organized labor in this country IS
purging itself of Its effete matter and
gradually rising above the plane upon
which it first came together. In its crude
efforts at self-protection and at utilizing
its numerical strength it was led to make
dangerous experiments, and especially to
sacrifice freedom to discipline. This
sacrifice undoubtedly gave it the appear
ance of increased power, and enabled IL
to undertake enterprises of large scope;
but the most important direct conse'
quence of the general surrender of llber-
ties by the members was the elevation to
power in the order of men whose aims
were selfish and narrow, and who thought
first and most of profting personally by
the authority they welded. In order to
fortify themselves and make their services
indispensable this class of false leaders
went to work Systematically to foment
disagreements between labor and capital,
to compel strikes and lockOuts, and to
keep the organizations in hot water per-
petually. To suit these men there could
not be too much bad feeling between the
employers and the employed.
The result of this policy, and of the
passive obedience which supported it, was
distinctly injurious to labor. Strikes,
which were wholly unjustified, which not
seldom were so fagrantly unwarrantable as
to ALLEVIATE public sympathy from the
strikers, were ordered and kept up in
spite of the most conspicuous proof of
their hopelessness. Thousands of work
ingmen were thrown out of employment
at the most unreasonable times, and their
maintenance became heavy burden upon
those still at work, until every local or
ganization became thoroughly Disguised
with the folly of the course pursued, and
refused longer to sustain it by contribu-
tions. Even these tokens of growing dis
satisfaction did not teach prudence to the
selfish local leaders, who went on to show
how little they cared for labor by forcing
other assemblies into strikes on the
edge of winter, and under perfectly des-
perate conditions. 1t was nothing to
them that crowds of men were thus made
to face penury in the bitterest weather,
and that their wives end chileren were ex-
posed to cruel suffering. But this could
not last. Hard experience was opening
the eyes of the men. They were realizing
little by little how they had been fooled.
They we're learning that labor had nothing
to hope and everything to fear from the
policy of strikes and boycotts. They were
being prepared to carry their organiza-
tion on to higher plane.
That is what they are doing now. Out
wardly there is discomfort, restlessness,
here and there even CONFUSION and revo-
movement Is but the necessary activity OF
the energies which are reforming and i'm
proving the organization. Nothing can
be done until the era of strikes and boy
colts is outgrown. If the old leaders
are too selfish and too narrow to
move forward and upward, they
will have to get out of the way
Otherwise they will find their authority
rejected and themselves deserted With
growing intelligence their petty despotism
will not be endured, nor can their personal
engrossment be overlooked. Their day
in fact, is past, and they must retire or
be retired. Labor will go on, learning
growing, perceiving. 1t will pass from
the crude belief in physical force, over.
bearing and tyrannizing, to the much
higher faith in reason, persuasion and
sagacious attention to circumstances
With every step beyond the primitive, out
grown methods, the success of organiza
ton will increase. With fuller realiza
ton of the truth that strikes are not
legitimate instruments of business, but
remedies only to be adopted as a last re-
| courca tho nr0s nepts Of labor will brio n an
Reform, however, implies better class Of
leaders and general revolt against the
passive obedience principle, which hitherto
has wrought organized labor a hundred
times more harm than all the good it ha:
obtained through the blind exercise OF
power.